Chapter 288 - Conclave (1/2)
Turning this way and that Orion Black quickly gave himself one last look in the mirror finding himself pleased with his appearance. Grabbing the invitation off the counter, he strolls downstairs with the Invitation securely in his jacket's pocket. His sons had been rather quiet since the Malfoy wedding that both he and Walburga had begun to worry. But then again, they had seen at least one person being murdered before their very eyes. It wasn't something he'd had ever wanted children to see, while they were still children, if not ever. No matter, what others might think of him, he did care for his two boys.
The dark-haired form of his wife, Walburga was waiting downstairs for him. Her gray eyes flashed as she checked his appearance to make sure that all was right. ”Make sure to keep your ears and eyes open, Orion,” Walburga not so subtly remarked.
”I will, Walburga,” Orion said as he unconsciously patted his coat pocket. ”I am more worried about the boys; they have not been eating very much at mealtimes.”
”With the shock that they suffered is it any surprise?” Walburga huffed unable to hide the worry in her eyes.
”I think it might do them good to have some air before the World Quidditch Cup,” Orion suggested. ”Might we send them to spend some time with my sister, Lucretia and her husband, Ignatius Prewett? They do have a home in the countryside, and I think a bit of sun would do them both good.”
”I will write to her later this very afternoon,” Walburga steadily said as she gave her husband one last nod, before heading upstairs to do so.
Grabbing a bit of floo from a golden urn, Orion tosses the sparkling in the powder. The green flames roar as he steps forward and says, ”Prince Family Manor.” The Prince Family unchartable floo hearth had temporarily been opened, but only accessible by those with invitations. Otherwise, anyone else attempting to get in would receive a most nasty surprise including those under Polyjuice or in animagus forms.
Orion emerged into the great Prince hall and was surprised at the tastefully luxury. Nowhere near as ostentatious as the Malfoy manor, but certainly not simply furnished either. Why half of the items just in the mere hallway were worth a fortune. Not to mention, whatever else the manor held.
Orion blinks at seeing a house elf wearing a crisp sparkling white collared shirt with black clothes in mourning. Orion blinked again as he couldn't quite believe his eyes. To his even greater shock, the house elf reaches into his pocket and pulls out a golden pocket watch on a chain to glance down at the time.
”If you'll come with me this way, Mr. Black, I shall escort you to where the rest of the guests are presently located at,” Tadbey crisply said as he put his watch away.
”You can't do that!” Orion flabbergasted said.
”Do what, sir?” Tadbey arched an eyebrow.
”This!” Orion squawked as he pointed at Tadbey up and down.
”I'm sorry, sir, but I'm afraid I don't understand,” Tadbey drily remarked. ”Perhaps, we aren't speaking the same English dialect. I do speak several other languages as well, would you like for me to answer in any one of those?”
Orion snaps his mouth with a loud snap as not to further embarrass himself. Though he wasn't sure, he could have sworn he detected a satisfied gleam in the strange house elf's eyes. ”This way, sir,” Tadbey said as he led the elegant dark-haired man with gray eyes to the ballroom, which was to hold the conclave.